Operation Varsity

In March 1945 the battalion took part in Operation Varsity the last airborne assault of the war, landing on the east bank of the river Rhine, by evening all of the battalion’s first objectives had been taken. Heading towards its second objective, it come upon a strong German defensive position. The battalion, despite heavy fire, assaulted and captured the position, capturing 500 prisoners of war. The battalion was next ordered to capture a nearby village. Led by Lieutenant Colonel Crookenden, they crossed 500 yards (460 m) of open land and secured the village capturing 200 prisoners. The battalion continued the advance into Germany, reaching the Baltic sea by the end of the war.